Left Hand Technique (Guitar Lesson)
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Left Hand Technique
Dave Isaacs takes a look at left hand technique with this lesson. He explains how the hand works with the neck and fretboard and corrects some common mistakes most beginners and intermediate level players make.
Taught by David Isaacs in Effortless Guitar seriesLength: 10:00Difficulty: 1.0 of 5
Video Subtitles / Captions
Supplemental Learning Material
Effortless Guitar
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsEffortless Guitar With Dave Isaacs.
Lesson 1
Effortless Guitar Primer
JamPlay welcomes David Isaacs to our teacher roster. With his first lesson Dave explains his approach to playing guitar with a focus on efficiency of motion.
Length: 10:06 Difficulty: 1.0 FREELesson 2
Left Hand Technique
Dave Isaacs takes a look at left hand technique with this lesson. He explains how the hand works with the neck and fretboard and corrects some common mistakes most beginners and intermediate level players...
Length: 10:00 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Flat Picking Technique
In this lesson, David Isaacs explains the mechanics of picking with a flat pick. He shows the differences between using your arm and wrist for the picking motion.
Length: 9:39 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
The Drummer In Your Right Hand
Dave Isaacs teaches right hand rhythms with this lesson for solo acoustic guitar. He explains that when playing by yourself you need to make up for the lack of other instruments by spicing up your right...
Length: 7:47 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Building Chords From Scales
Dave teaches you how to open up the fretboard by learning chords built from scales. In this lesson and most lessons in his series, Dave assumes that the student knows the major and minor scales as well...
Length: 8:48 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Economical Chord Changes
Building upon his last lesson, Dave shows you some ways to change between chords efficiently. This lesson is aimed at self-taught intermediate players but may benefit beginners as well.
Length: 7:32 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Barre Chords
Dave Isaacs continues his lessons on chord technique with this lesson on barre chords (also known as bar chords). In this lesson he shows simple but effective ways to play barre chords efficiently. He...
Length: 9:42 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Non-Diatonic Chord Progressions
Dave shows you how to connect a chord together in a progression even if it is not in the same diatonic key of the progression. In this lesson Dave assumes you have some basic knowledge of scale and chord...
Length: 9:42 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Fingerstyle Technique
David Isaacs explores the intricacies of fingerstyle picking and the different methods that can be used. He explains how your right hand works while fingerpicking and how to find what works for you.
Length: 21:31 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Adding Melody To Your Arpeggio Patterns
Dave Isaacs shows you how to add melody lines to your fingerstyle arpeggio progressions. As with all his lessons in this series a certain amount of knowledge is assumed and Dave focuses on helping you...
Length: 7:37 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Effective Practice Habits For Adults
Dave lays out his life long experiences related to practicing and guitar. If you have limited time to practice and want to get the most out of your time, you need to watch this lesson.
Length: 8:30 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
About David Isaacs
View Full Biography
Nashville-based Dave Isaacs has made a name for himself as one of Music City's top guitar instructors, working with both professional and aspiring songwriters and artists at his Music Row teaching studio. He is also an instructor in the music department at Tennessee State University and is the coordinator and artistic director of the annual TSU Guitar Summit.
A seasoned performer as well, Dave has released eight independent CDs and gigs steadily as a solo artist, bandleader, and sideman. He continues to write, record, and perform as well as arranging and producing projects for other artists.
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.It's funny, I've been playing guitar for 10 years, a couple years as a "pro", and I'm going back and trying to correct left hand technique now...lol
So true about the weight of the fretting arm being more than sufficient to stop the string(s) for single notes and most chords. It follows, logically, that the primary use of the thumb is not so much to oppose the fingers, but as a reference for hand position and to stabilize the hand.
Thank you for all your beginners lessons which have set me up to start playing with more confidence. I will keep going back to the lessons but this is a wonderful addition to your clear teachings.
It looks as if you are laying your hand down when you reach for the 5th & 6th frets. Doesn't this deaden the 4th & 5th strings then?
Guitar Zen Master...Awesome!
A good and vital lesson. Distraction while drilling technique continues to be a struggle for me. I even started figuring out and practicing the lick you were using to demonstrate your point while listening to the lesson. Must try harder to focus.
Good grief. Wish I would've learned this years ago. Thanks.
I feel that way about everything I learn.
Good to hear you talk about the anatomy off the left hand and the way you explained the effortless use of the left hand I certainly will use your info in my practice. Thanks for your thoughts.
What's that on the nut of your guitar ? Looks like capo, but what's it doing on the nut ?
Important video. Now I'm going to ask myself a lot of questions.
Man I've been playing for ever, I am graduated from a music conservatory and I would've loved to have this lesson on the early days, great lesson, very important one! thanks man! and hello from Argentina
hello left hand
Very serious here; I like the way he only plays to illustrate. Good concept that I will try.
I appreciate your easy relaxed style. I am looking forward to your future lessons.
Thanks for the lesson David...great teaching! Look forward to what's next. Doug
More please!
Great lesson - thanks!
Thanks for the lesson. Although there's not really much "exercises" in there, I feel like what you said about exercises in general really helps. Looking forward to the next lesson.